The British Indie Scene
 

Is it just me or is there very close to nothing worth listening to at present in British indie music (with the few obvious exceptions)? What are all these RUBBISH bands popping out of absolutely nowhere? Why would anybody feel proud to identify with such a manifestly appalling bunch of insipid, idea-strapped, directionless twits? Who would be content to include the mediocrity of bands like The Holloways and Reverend And The Makers (or worse, the ones who aren't so well known) in their listening regime? I've also noticed that British "indie kids", who identify with being "indie", often know absolutely nothing about the indie music of North America, i.e. where all the independent music worth anything at all is predominantly created.

What's up with all this?

It's been like that ever since The L****tines showed up.

Umm...The Smiths, Joy Division, The Jesus and Mary Chain, Primal Scream, Nick Drake, Radiohead, Stereolab, Stone Roses, Echo & The Bunnymen, Super Furry Animals, Slowdive...

Ethan don't fall for it. Rainard is on the wind up again.

Yeah. I'm talking about the present moment in time and new bands. Obviously a huge amount of amazing indie bands have come out of Britain in the past. My question is what is going on today? Useless band after useless band is being churned out like nobobdy's business.

So no, it's not a wind-up this time (to jackhammer) but quite a serious concern. I might say some obviously silly things at times : ) but hell, I be darned if I was gonna start casting aspersions on British music altogether. My point is simple - there is something wrong in the present scene.

And: the vast majority of new, exciting, decent indie acts are coming out of North America.

You're right in a sense although I don't think a lot of the stuff you're referring to should really be classed as British Indie music. It's certainly mainstream enough to receive constant airplay from the bland and insipid morons at 'the nations favourite' Radio 1.

Cack like 'The Wombats' only serves to highlight how every idiot with a MySpaz account thinks they've got a God given right to be the next big thing. Even being 'famous for 15 minutes' is pushing the boat. Remember though, if it wasn't for the sh*t, you wouldn't appreciate the good stuff - and there's plenty of decent British Indie bands if you look hard enough.

Um, are you serious? I often find that atm there is way too much good stuff out there, not too little. You're obviously listening to the wrong stuff :-)

Provided you're talking about new acts, I'm not saying you're wrong, but if so, could you enlighten me? The only imo truly decent debut I came across in 2007 was the Welsh boys (and girls) of Los Campesinos.

Same deal, really. Be great if you could direct me towards where it is. Remember, I'm talking about new acts. That excludes established indie folk like Radiohead, Franz, and so forth. Cheers.

Also, have either of you heard of a now defunct band Les Incompetents, or the band that emerged from the midst of their ruins, Ox.Eagle.Lion.Man? I have heard these kids raving about them, but they seem kinda bad. I've also heard indie boys in Britain praising the sounds of certain bands related to the scene and making out that they are really "cutting edge", while it's actually really derivative garbage with about as much sonic progression as beating a bog roll.

And NME and Q magazine are unquestionably the most biased, absurd publications to exist in the music world. </rant>

Try lightspeed champion.

If there are 'loads of good British indie bands' around nobody is posting about them here , playing their music anywhere or even talking about them anywhere else which leads me to believe there isn't any bar the odd band.